ABSTRACT
Objective To express and purify the recombinant UL7 protein of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), to prepare the corresponding UL7-specific polyclonal antibody and to preliminarily analyze the expression of UL7 protein during the proliferation of HSV-1. Methods The UL7 gene was amplified by PCR and then cloned into the pGEX-5X-1 vector for expression of UL7 protein in the prokaryotic expression system. The constructed expression plasmid, pGEX-5X-1-UL7, was transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3) to induce the expression of UL7 protein by IPTG. The purified GST-UL7 fusion protein was used as antigen to inject the ICR mouse for the preparation of polyclonal antibody specific for UL7 protein. The titer and speci-ficity of the polyclonal antibody were analyzed by using indirect ELISA and Western blot assay, respectively. The UL7 protein-specific polyclonal antibody was used to detect the expression of UL7 protein at different time points after infecting Vero cells with HSV-1. Results The GST-UL7 fusion protein was efficiently ex-pressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3). The UL7 protein-specific polyclonal antibody was prepared with high titer (1 ∶ 105) and high specificity as indicated by the indirect ELISA and Western blot assay. The expression of UL7 protein was detected at different time points after infecting Vero cells with HSV-1. Conclusion The GST-UL7 fusion protein was obtained successfully and the UL7 protein-specific polyclonal antibody was pre-pared. Accompany with the proliferation of HSV-1, the expression of UL7 protein was detected at different time points by using the polyclonal antibody.
ABSTRACT
Aim: To see possible association between the chemotherapy, radiotherapy or both with the reactivation of Herpes simplex virus 1(HSV1) in brain which merits further dialogue in the field of current evidence based literature. Presentation of Case: We present a case of 46 years old male patient who developed herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) while receiving radical chemo-radiation for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Full informed consent was obtained for publication of this case. He was treated with protracted course of anti-virals and is currently leading a healthy life. Study Design: The study is a case report of a rare but important side effect of a common chemoradiation procedure. Place and Duration of Study: The study took place at Comprehensive Cancer Center, King Fahad Medical City. It was reported during June 2013. Discussion: HSV1 causes several disseminated primary infections including herpes labialis, gingivostomatitis, and corneal infections. It is particularly notorious for causing potentially fatal encephalitis. Its reactivation is linked to several environmental factors including chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Conclusion: This case report emphasizes on the possible role of chemo-radiation as causation of this life threatening condition, its early detection, prompt and aggressive treatment.
ABSTRACT
Nuclear proteins often form punctiform structures, but the precise mechanism for this process is unknown. As a preliminary study, we investigated the aggregation of an HSV-1 immediate-early protein,infected-cell protein 22 (ICP22), in the nucleus by observing the localization of ICP22-EGFP fusion protein.Results showed that, in high-level expression conditions, ICP22-EGFP gradually concentrates in the nucleus,persists throughout the cell cycle without disaggregation even in the cell division phase, and is finally distributed to daughter cells. We subsequently constructed a mammalian cell expression system, which had tetracyclinedependent transcriptional regulators. Consequently, the location of ICP22-EGFP in the nucleus changed with distinct induction conditions. This suggests that the cellular location of ICP22 is also influenced by promoter regulation, in addition to its own structure. Our findings provide new clues for the investigation of transcriptional regulation of viral genes. In addition, the non-protease reporter system we constructed could be utilized to evaluate the role of internal ribosome entry sites (IRES) on transcriptional regulation.